John Wheaton (60) gave up work to look after his wife:

“At the office there was more and more pressure for me to come in on time and leave at the right time. But this just doesn’t work with my everyday life as a carer. It got more and more difficult. It had become a prison sentence.”

The over 50s contribute the equivalent of £15 billion to the economy in unpaid care every year‚ * yet many face poverty and hardship as a result.

During UK Carers Week 2005‚ we are highlighting the situation of up to three million 50+ carers  whose labour of love saves billions each year but leaves many of them facing a difficult old age.

Women in their 50s are most likely to be caring‚ with nearly one in four providing care. But employers’ inflexibility‚ together with old fashioned and rigid state pension rules‚ mean that carers are penalised financially for taking time out of work to care for sick‚ older and disabled partners‚ relatives and friends.   

We are calling for urgent Government action to improve the state pension system so that it properly recognises unpaid caring work. The campaigners also want carers to be granted the same rights to request flexible working from employers as those caring for children.  Without these rights‚ many older carers are forced to give up working or balance the gruelling round-the-clock demands of caring with a day job.

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern England said:

“Older carers are caught in a no-win situation. If they give up work‚ they face poverty. If they keep their jobs‚ they must struggle with unrelenting hours.

“Carers save the economy billions through unpaid work each year and they need flexible working as much as parents do. At the same time our outmoded pension system needs sweeping reform.”

Brenda Goodwin‚ 56‚ has been a carer for the past 35 years. She brought up three children‚ cared for her mother with breast cancer and her second husband who recently died. She said: “I have spent the past 35 years working extremely hard as a carer. I stayed at home as it was my only option. To my horror‚ at the age of 56‚ I am now facing a very uncertain future. I think that the current system for carers is very confusing and needs to be changed. Caring is a full-time job and should be recognised as such.”

Note to editors:

*  Economic Contribution of Older People‚ Volterra and Age Concern‚ Jan 2004.

Carers Week 2005 takes place from 13-19 June‚ organised jointly by seven UK-wide charities; including Carers UK‚ Crossroads Caring for Carers‚ Macmillan Cancer Relief‚ MS Society‚ Rethink and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

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